Universal Studios
A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless—in a world of criminals who operate above the law.
For the uninitiated, Knight Rider was 1982–1986’s prime-time comfort food, the television equivalent of an ‘80s action burrito stuffed with crime-fighting, impossible gadgetry, and David Hasselhoff’s perfectly feathered hair.
Michael Knight, once an undercover cop left for dead, is given a new face, a new identity, and a new mission by billionaire Wilton Knight.
Along with the job comes the keys to KITT—the Knight Industries Two Thousand—a sleek, black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with an artificial intelligence sharper than its hood ornament and a snarky personality courtesy of William Daniels’ unmistakable voice.
Together, Michael and KITT crisscrossed America, saving the day, busting bad guys, and exchanging banter like an old married couple that just happened to be half-human, half-car.
The ride began with the two-part pilot “Knight of the Phoenix” and quickly found its formula: corruption uncovered, Michael investigates, KITT comments dryly, Turbo Boost launches them over an improbable obstacle, and justice prevails by the fade-out. Sometimes it got personal—Michael squaring off against his evil twin Garthe (also Hasselhoff, armed with a beard of pure villainy), or mechanical—such as the grudge matches with KARR, KITT’s morally bankrupt prototype.
By season 4, the series embraced its inner toy commercial with “Super Pursuit Mode,” a transformation that looked like someone glued every available spoiler, fin, and rocket to the car and told physics to take the afternoon off.
The human supporting cast gave the show extra shine. Edward Mulhare’s Devon Miles was FLAG’s distinguished leader, dispensing missions with British authority and arched eyebrows. Patricia McPherson’s Bonnie Barstow and Rebecca Holden’s April Curtis kept KITT in top condition while managing to look improbably glamorous for people who spent their days elbow-deep in engine bays. Peter Parros rounded out the final season as RC3, a street-smart ally with a knack for keeping the mobile unit rolling.
Pop culture moments? Take your pick. The slo-mo Turbo Boost jumps—gravity-defying stunts that dared viewers to believe a Trans Am could fly. KITT’s hypnotic red scanner light—borrowed from Battlestar Galactica’s Cylons but somehow cooler. The “KITT vs. KARR” face-offs, which made the concept of evil twins even better by giving them wheels. The “Goliath” episodes, pitting Michael against himself and a hulking armored semi. And over it all, Stu Phillips’ theme music—a synth-driven masterpiece that could make something as mundane as backing out of a driveway feel like a covert operation.
What set Knight Rider apart wasn’t just its stunts or tech, but its spirit. It was pure Reagan-era optimism, built on the idea that one man (and one smugly self-aware car) could make a difference. Critics called it formulaic; audiences made it a hit, with up to 20 million viewers tuning in. It inspired spin-offs, reboots, toys, comics, pinball machines, and parodies on everything from The Simpsons to Family Guy. KITT arguably set the blueprint for every wisecracking AI sidekick to follow—from JARVIS to Siri.
Now, in 4K UHD, the show has never looked better. Colors pop, blacks are deep, and there’s enough fine detail to appreciate every crease in Devon’s suits. HDR10 breathes new life into desert chases and neon-lit cities. But it’s not flawless: compression artifacts creep in during action-heavy moments, and a few two-part episodes are presented in syndicated edits rather than full originals. Audio in DTS-HD MA 2.0 is clear and punchy, though some licensed songs have been replaced—a small heartbreak for purists who know exactly what should be playing under certain scenes.
The extras are plentiful. The pilot includes commentary from Hasselhoff and creator Glen A. Larson. There are vintage featurettes, photo galleries, the full Knight Rider 2000 movie, and, best of all, the new hour-long Knight Rider: Behind the Wheel documentary—a loving, behind-the-scenes deep dive into the show’s creation and impact. The Hoff doesn’t make a new appearance, but it’s still well worth the watch.
In short, this 4K release is Knight Rider at its sleekest—restored, polished, and still every bit the gleefully implausible, turbo-boosted, theme-music-blaring ride you remember. And if you didn’t grow up with it, here’s your chance to meet a hero who always kept the pedal down and the snark dialed up.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login